Experimental accumulation of lead from soil through earthworms to common shrews.

Common shrews (Sorex araneus) were fed on earthworms containing high concentrations of lead. Both the earthworms and shrews originated from uncontaminated areas, but earthworms for the "lead" group of shrews were reared in the laboratory for 3 or 4 weeks in highly Pb-polluted soil from near an old lead smelter. The control group of shrews received the same amount of earthworms from the uncontaminated area. The acceptance of the experimental food by shrews was significantly lower in the lead group, indicating that the shrews were able to detect the lead in their food. After 2-31 days of feeding, the shrews in the lead group had significantly higher Pb concentrations in their liver, kidney, bone, and pelt than did the controls. Both the number of deaths during the experiment and the proportion of individuals with changes in kidney histology were significantly higher in the lead group.

PB uptake by ecologically dissimilar earthworm (Lumbricidae) species near a lead smelter in south Finland.

The number of species and individuals, and the total biomass of earthworms decreased with decreasing distance from a lead smelter in southern Finland, as the Pb load of the soil increased. In soils highly polluted with Pb significant interspecific differences were found in the Pb concentration and the Pb concentration factor of lumbricids, whereas in slightly Pb polluted 'control' soils there were no significant interspecific differences. Near the smelter, the Pb concentration of the endogeic Aporrectodea caliginosa was higher than in the epigeic Lumbricus rubellus and L. casteneus. Pb concentration factors of these three species were lower in the highly polluted soil than in the 'control' soil, indicating that they were able to regulate their Pb accumulation. Contradicting these field observations, of the worms from the 'control' soil but reared in highly Pb polluted soil for up to 70 days, the epigeic L. castaneus, L. rubellus and Dendrodrilus rubidus took up more Pb than did the endogeic A. caliginosa and A. rosea. They also accumulated more Pb during the rearing periods than their counterparts permanently living in the highly Pb polluted soil, indicating that besides interspecific differences in Pb accumulation there seem to be intraspecific differences as well. Acclimatization and/or genotype differences can underlie earthworms' adaptation to Pb polluted soil, where they may have dissimilar physiological pathways to cope with high soil Pb concentrations. The amount of Pb rendered available to a local food chain by a population of earthworms will depend on the ability of the worms to accumulate Pb in their tissues, which in turn, is a function of the population's history of Pb exposure. Species such as A. caligonosa, which accumulate and continuously withstand high Pb concentrations in their tissues, are most appropriate for biomonitoring.

The distribution of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) in Finland in 1975.

The distribution of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) in Finland was surveyed in the light of an inquiry. The range presented is based on more than one thousand answers to a questionnaire. The extension further northward of this species during the past ten years was confirmed. The distributional areas of the hedgehog in Finland in 1952, 1965 and 1975 are presented in a cartogram. In southern Finland the number of the hedgehog has clearly decreased during the past ten years (1965-1975). Some possible reasons for the decline are discussed.